Method of preparing leather for weaving



May 24, 1932. P. MATTLER METHOD OF PREPARING LEATHER FOR WEAVING Filed Feb. 11. 1929 PETER MTTITER; y

Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES rssasm. Y

PATENT oFFi PETER MATTLER, or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AssrGNon ro aonnsomsrnrnnns a SHINKLE snon COMPANY, or s1 LOUIS, nrssounr, A conroanrron or Mrssouar METHOD or PREPARING LEATHER. non wEAvINe This invention pertains to a method of preparing leather in strips as for the purpose of weaving such strips into a suitable web.

In the art of weaving leather, a series of narrow strips is arranged to form the warp and similar narrow strips wound upon suitable shuttles are passed through the warp in the usual manner to form the web. As leather ordinarily comes in short lengths, so that strips cut therefrom would be limited in length and frequent splicing would be necessary in order to provide a strip suitable for weaving, it is desirable to provide a method for preparing strips of considerable length wound upon suitable shuttles so as to reduce to a minimum the labor required for splicing.

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a method for conveniently cutting sheets of leather into strips and winding the same upon shuttles.

Another object is to provide a method whereby a band of considerable length may be made up of sections of leather bands spliced together and the composite band out into continuous strips of great length.

Another object is toprovide such a method in which the strips are wound upon shuttles as they are cut from the band.

Further objects will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying this invention and adapted for carrying out the method thereof; and

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1.

In accordance with the present invention, a long band of leather is made up by splicing together a series of sections. This band is then out into a plurality of narrow strips, which are passed directly to a series of shuttles and wound thereon. During the cutting 1 and winding operations, the cut strips are kept under tension from the point of cutting to the winding shuttles so asto insure smooth operation of the cutting devices and, therefore, clean-cut strips, and also to insure properwinding thereof upon the, shuttles.

Theshuttle wound strips may then be used I for weaving a web of leather strips as descrlbed in application Serial No. 349,337, filed Mar. 23, 1929. In this method a similar band, made up of a series ofshort sections of leather spliced together, is passed through a set of cutters to .cutit into narrow strips. The cut strips are arranged to form the warp and to be separated in a suitable manner to form a shed through which the shuttle wound strips are passed. This invention is, therefore, complementary to that described in the above mentionedapplicat-ion and relates to the preparation ofthe shuttle Woundstri-ps "ndtheir application to the weaving operation.-

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a frame of any suitabletype, upon which is mounted a reel 2 carrying 'a band 3 of leather. Before winding on the reel, the band 3 is prepared by' splicing together a series. of short sections to make up one long band. Mounted on the upper part of the frame 1 is aseries of cutting wheels 4 connected to be operated in any suitable manner, as by a crank. 5. The

band 3 passes upwardly to the cutters 4:. 7

or the like, may be passed through the cutters below the leather band 3 so as to insure clean cutting of the strips. The backing material 7 may, however',lbe omitted, if-so desired.

After passing through the cutters 4, the band is subdivided into narrow strips 8, which are then passed through a suitable comb 9, so as to separate the same, and then to a series of shuttles 10 mounted on ashaftll arranged to be driven by a motor 12 or other suitable means. I r

The motor 12'may be arranged in any suitable manner to apply a constanttorque to the shaft 11 so that the strips Swill be maintained 'under tension and such tension will bemaintained practically uniform. This may be they are held under tension fromthe points done by'winding the motor in such a way that it may be stalled without injury and arranging it to apply a continuous torque to the shaft 11, either directly or through suitable gearing. Or, it may be connected to the shaft 11 through any suitable means adapted to apply the required torque. By thus rotating the shuttles with a constant torque, the strips are maintained under tension from the shuttles clear to the cutting point at the cutters 4. The reel 2 may be provided with a suitable braking device 13. adapted to the tension. 7 In this Way, the strips and the band are passed through the cutters under tension so that the 1 of splitting.

5. In the art of making leather strands, the method comprising, matching or squaring and splicing together successive hides or leather sections, splitting the spliced sections into strands, holding the joined leather sections under tension to the points of splitting and holding the strands under tension from the points of splitting.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature this 31st day of January, 1929. 1

PETER MATTLER.

band is kept smooth, 'and'a clean cutting operation is obtained.

It will be seen that this invention provides a simple method for preparing strips of.

leather for Weaving. The splicing together of the separatesections of the band 3 before cutting obviates the necessity of splicing each of the strips. 8 in order to produce a strip 7 sufliciently long for weaving purposes. It is further obvious that in splicing a broad band 3, a neater and more uniform splice may be made, so as to avoid ridges in. the material. Consequently, when the band is cut into strips, the strips will be of uniform width and thickness throughout, and a uniform web will result from the weaving operation. I It is obvious thatvarious changes may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, in the details of construction and operation without departing-from the spirit of this invention. It'is, therefore, to be understood that this invention isnotto be limited to the specific details shown and/or fdescribed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In the art of making leather strands, the method comprising, matching or squaring and splicing together. successive hides orv leather sections, and splitting the spliced sec-. tions into strands. j

2. In the art of making leather strands,

the method'comprising, matching or squaring and splicing together successive hides or leather sections, splitting the spliced sections into strands, and winding the strands as they are split off.

3'. In the art of making leather strands,

the method comprising, matching or squaring and splicing together successive hidesor leather sections,- splitting the spliced sections .into strands, and holding the strands under the leather sections.

4. In the art of making leather strands, the method comprising, matching or squartension-while they are being split off from ing and splicing together successive hides or leather sections, splitting the spliced sections into strands, and winding the strands while 

